As women, we possess both vision and resilience—balancing enterprise-building with societal expectations and often navigating our journeys in isolation. Yet behind every thriving woman-led business is often a moment, a relationship, or a conversation that unlocked the next level.
We have long carried the dual weight of potential and barriers—visionaries building enterprises, raising families, and transforming communities, often without the kind of guidance that accelerates our path to sustainable success. In my journey as a mentor and business transformation consultant, I’ve seen firsthand the power of mentorship to close that gap. It is not just a relationship but a strategic and transformative tool for women’s economic empowerment.
My journey as a mentor
Over the years, I have been privileged to mentor women across local and international platforms including the Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme, Women in Africa Mentoring Programme by Deloitte, IFC’s She Wins Africa, WIMBIZ, LEAP Africa, and FATE Foundation. More recently, I’ve extended this impact through structured roles with Futurpreneur Canada and the LiftOff Black Innovation Hub—two platforms actively working to shape the next generation of resilient, innovation-led Black and minority women entrepreneurs.
These are reflections of my personal commitment to walk alongside women as they scale their businesses, navigate uncertainty, and define their unique paths to success. I understand the risks, the sleepless nights, and the weight of decision-making that come with entrepreneurship—because I’ve lived it and I’m still living it.
In every mentoring engagement, whether guiding a founder through market entry strategy or helping a young entrepreneur overcome mindset blocks or just helping a seasoned entrepreneur find clarity, one truth remains: mentorship works. It reduces failure cycles, accelerates clarity, and promotes confident decision-making.
Why mentorship is essential for women entrepreneurs
Mentorship is not about shortcuts—it’s about wisdom. It is about tapping into lived experiences to avoid costly mistakes and to embrace opportunities earlier. Women entrepreneurs often face structural and cultural limitations—limited access to funding, lack of networks, and the emotional toll of carrying multiple responsibilities. A good mentor helps untangle these knots. Mentorship is not charity—it’s catalytic. For women navigating entrepreneurship, mentorship is not just helpful, it is essential. It offers:
- Experience on demand: A mentor helps you avoid common pitfalls based on both their personal journey and from others within their network.
- Critical thinking and challenge: They help you evaluate ideas with objectivity and rigour
- Strategic access: Many business doors are unlocked not by funding alone, but by wisdom and networks
Women often face systemic and psychological barriers—underestimating our worth, doubting our growth potential, or being excluded from influential spaces. Mentors help bridge these gaps by providing perspective, accountability, and validation.
Over the years as a mentor, I’ve seen women pivot from survival mode to strategic growth within months of entering the right mentoring relationships. Mentorship gives permission to dream boldly—and execute with discipline.
Mentorship vs. Sponsorship: A subtle but significant difference
While both are crucial, mentorship and sponsorship are not the same. A mentor advises you, challenges you, and walks beside you. A sponsor uses their influence to open doors for you, often in rooms you may never enter on your own.
Sponsorship is powerful—but mentorship lays the groundwork. A mentor helps prepare you for the spotlight long before someone vouches for you in it. Without mentorship, sponsorship can be premature. With it, opportunities become sustainable.
How to find the right mentor
You don’t wait for a mentor to find you—you position yourself to find one.
- Be Clear About Your Needs: Are you seeking operational guidance, leadership coaching, or industry-specific insight?
- Engage Within Ecosystems: Leverage communities like Futurpreneur, WIMBIZ, LinkedIn groups, or local accelerators that offer structured mentoring.
- Reach Out Authentically: Mentorship is about relationship, not entitlement. Demonstrate curiosity, commitment, and respect for the mentor’s time and expertise.
Mentors aren’t always high-profile public figures. Surprisingly, the most impactful mentors could just be a few steps ahead of you—willing to share hard-learned lessons, offering steady encouragement through your seasons of growth and uncertainty.
What to expect – and what not to
Mentorship is a partnership—not a service. While mentors can provide insights, introductions, and encouragement, they are not business coaches or miracle workers. Respecting the boundaries of the relationship is critical. Healthy mentorship is built on mutual respect, clear expectations, and shared accountability. It’s not a magic wand or a one-size-fits-all relationship.
Expect:
- Candid feedback, not sugarcoating
- Direction, not handholding
- Encouragement rooted in realism
- Strategic introductions when appropriate
- Support, not dependency
Do not expect:
- Free Consulting or Business funding
- Unlimited access or personal sacrifice
- Perfect answers to every challenge
- A one-size-fits-all approach
Great mentees are action oriented. They listen, act, and report back. That feedback loop is where transformation happens – from advice to results.
Scaling women-led impact through mentorship
Mentorship is one of the most underestimated accelerators for women’s economic empowerment. It builds confidence, unlocks capital, and expands capacity. But it’s not just about individual gain. When one woman rises, she creates a ripple effect. She hires. She mentors. She uplifts others.
As women, we don’t just need more capital—we need more community. Mentorship bridges that gap. And I remain committed to supporting women across Africa and the diaspora to grow ventures that outlive them.
So, if you’re a woman on the rise—seek a mentor. If you’re seasoned—become one. And if you’re reading this and wondering if mentorship really makes a difference—let me assure you, it absolutely does.
I acknowledge fellow mentors, aspiring mentees, and ecosystem builders who believe in the power of shared experience. Together, we can build an economy where women thrive—and bring others along as they rise.
